Institutions

Our image collections show Kings, Queens, Princes and Princesses. They may be opening buildings or bridges, riding in state, attending banquets, supporting Londoners in time of war, or they may be being celebrated, married, buried or beheaded.

Royalty provided the subject for the first artistic depiction of London in the form of the famous manuscript illumination (held by the British Library) of the Duc d'Orleans after his defeat at Agincourt, looking from his prison in the White Tower out to the Thames and beyond to London Bridge. Royalty in this case also provided the commission, Edward IV had the image produced to illustrate his manuscript of poems by the Duke.

Coronations and royal entries inspired other early London views images such as Edward VI's procession in Cheapside in 1547. In many hundreds of pictures in the LMA collections we see Kings Queens Princes and Princesses, whether opening new buildings or bridges, riding in State, attending banquets or supporting Londoners in time of war, and at many stages of life: being christened, being married, being beheaded - or being buried.

This gallery presents some of our finest historical photographs and prints of Kings, Queens and Royal life in London. To discover more, try searching or use the London Picture Map to focus on a location.